How A Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Help You With A DWI Charge

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Imagine you just had the best night of your life out on the town. On your way home, you get stopped by a cop for a routine traffic stop.

The cop asks for a breath test, and your results show you’re intoxicated. You’re charged with a DWI.

It’s a scary situation, but a criminal defense lawyer with DWI experience can help. Then, you can understand the charges and how to avoid them in the future.

What Is a DWI?

A DWI is a criminal offense committed, and it’s short for Driving While Intoxicated. In Texas, anyone with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher is legally intoxicated.

Police officers can use a breath test to check your BAC, and they can use the test if they suspect that you’re intoxicated.

While drinking alcohol will raise your BAC, so some drugs can also intoxicate you. There’s no set amount of alcohol or drugs that will reach the legal threshold.

The amount you can consume without hitting the limit depends on your weight, gender, and other factors. If you’re charged with a DWI, you can face fees and jail time.

Luckily, a criminal defense lawyer DWI specialist can help you navigate the case.

Criminal Defense Lawyer: DWI Cases

If you get charged with a DWI, you should contact a criminal defense lawyer specializing in DWI cases. A lawyer can help you navigate the case and proceedings.

While they may not get you out of the charges, they can protect you. They can ensure that you receive a fair trial and a fair punishment.

If you’re deciding between a criminal defense lawyer and one who specializes in DWI, choose the specialist. A specialist will understand DWI law better, and they can answer your questions more in-depth.

DWI specialists also know what to expect with the specific trial. Depending on if it’s your first or second offense, the criminal defense lawyer will know what you both need to do during the proceedings.

How a Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Help

Working with a criminal defense lawyer after you’re charged with a DWI is essential. Not only can it ease your stress during the case, but the lawyer can answer your questions.

Even if you’ve had a DWI conviction, before, things can change. A criminal defense lawyer with a DWI specialty has gone through many cases.

The lawyers who work in Texas will also know the specifics of Texas law. Perhaps your prior conviction was in another state.

Since state laws can vary, working with a local lawyer can help you get through the case more easily.

While you might not get the charges dropped, your lawyer will guide you as you progress through each step of the process.

Navigate the Case

A criminal case of any kind can be daunting. If you’re charged with a DWI, you can face harsh punishment.

Unfortunately, if you’re guilty, you will have to pay a fine or spend time in jail, if not both. However, your criminal defense lawyer can help you understand the steps.

You can ask your lawyer questions about everything from the charges to the potential punishments. A good criminal defense lawyer can help you get through the stress of a case.

If you go through the case without a lawyer, you won’t be able to work with a professional. The best lawyers will study your specific case so that they can do what’s best for you.

Help You Understand What to Expect

A criminal defense lawyer can also tell you what you can expect during your case. Getting a DWI can be scary, and the punishments can be terrifying.

However, a good DWI lawyer will know the process well. They can explain certain things even though you don’t know a ton of legal terminology.

Your lawyer can tell you how long your trial might be and how likely you are to receive a certain punishment.

They won’t be able to guarantee the lightest punishment or that you’ll be innocent. On the other hand, they have years of experience working, and they should know Texas DWI laws like the back of their hand.

Get Through Complications

Unfortunately, not all DWIs are discovered as part of a traffic stop. If you drive while intoxicated and hit a person or another vehicle, you could have more charges.

Of course, no one wants to have a complicated case. However, it can happen, and you want the help of a lawyer to get through it.

One possible charge that can come along with your DWI charge is intoxication manslaughter. If you hit and kill someone as a result of your drunk driving, you’ll face a manslaughter charge.

Perhaps you don’t kill anyone but you get into a fight. In that case, you could face an intoxication assault charge.

Also, if your BAC is .15 or higher, you’ll face a class A misdemeanor charge. Even if you don’t kill or assault anyone, that high of a BAC is worse than being slightly over the legal limit.

Move On From the Case

After you get through a DWI case, your criminal defense lawyer can help you with your next steps. In some cases, that will mean serving jail time.

While going to jail is relatively straightforward, other punishments aren’t. If you have to pay a fine, your lawyer can help you pay the right amount and to the right department.

Perhaps you lose your license for a short period. Your lawyer can help you when it comes time to reinstate your license.

Also, some DWI cases require that you install an Ignition Interlock Device to prevent you from driving drunk in the future, and your lawyer can help you with that process.

Finally, your lawyer can help you get back on your feet after you finish the case and serve your jail time or pay the necessary fines.

Dealing With a DWI Charge

Whether through a traffic stop or an accident, being charged with a DWI can be stressful. Luckily, a criminal defense lawyer DWI specialist can help you get through the case.

Your lawyer can help you understand the charges you face and the punishments you could receive.

If you have questions about your case, you can ask the lawyer, and they’ll have a good idea about local laws.

Are you facing a DWI charge? Contact us for a free case evaluation.